Lance Hindt denies the allegation about his middle-school behavior

Updated 8:25 pm, Monday, March 26, 2018

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During a public forum at the March 19 Katy ISD work study board meeting, Greg Barrett accused Katy ISD Superintendent Lance Hindt of bullying him in school while the two were children. Hindt has issued a statement denying the allegation, saying the man's claim "simply isn't true." (Katy ISD video)

Media: Katy Independent School District

An alleged bullying incident involving the Katy ISD superintendent more than three decades ago has roiled a suburban district known for its passion for football.

Greg Barrett, a Katy-area businessman, strode to the lectern during a public forum at a March 19 board meeting and announced that Superintendent Lance Hindt had bullied him when they attended a Katy ISD middle school together. Barrett, who now uses his mother's maiden name, said he was taunted because of his legal last name — Gay — and that Hindt had once shoved his head into a boys room urinal.

Hindt seemed to laugh but said nothing as the man lodged his complaint at a sparsely attended Katy ISD meeting. The following day, the well-regarded educator who took the helm of the district in mid-2016 issued a statement saying he didn't remember his middle school classmate and that the claim "simply isn't true."

"As superintendent in three school districts in Texas, I have always tried to create an environment where every student is safe — physically and emotionally. But when an individual impugns my character and reputation as the instigator of those actions, I am disappointed because it simply is not true," Hindt said in a written statement.

That same day, another Katy businessman backed up elements of Barrett's account and concurred that Hindt was a "bully" in middle and high school. Hindt played varsity football at Katy ISD's Taylor High School and then was on the roster of the Oklahoma Sooners for two years.

At a packed Katy ISD board meeting Monday evening, Hindt did not address the specifics of the allegations of bullying made against him, captured in a video that attracted nationwide attention. "I recognize I am not a perfect person," he said.

After the meeting, trustees voiced support for Hindt, who led the Allen and Stafford school districts before signing a contract in 2016 with a base salary of $375,000 a year to run the Katy ISD.

"The board fully vetted Dr. Lance Hindt before hiring him two years ago," said Ashley Vann, Katy ISD board president. "His strong leadership and fulfillment of our vision since then has affirmed our decision. We stand united with Dr. Hindt today."

Still, the incident has raised questions about Hindt's initial reaction, the lingering effects of teenage bullying and what is the statute of limitations for teenage misbehavior.

Kevin Epling, who became an advocate against school bullying after his 14-year-old son Matt took his own life in 2002 following a hazing incident, said he wasn't surprised that a man who had been bullied in junior high school would come forward after so many years.

"Bullying is not something that just 'goes away.' We don't talk about it. Most of us just bury it," Epling said Friday.

A bully can leave a victim wounded even if there are no physical scars, Epling said. "It can leave a mark on their psyche and well-being," he said.

While physical attacks still occur, cyberbullying — bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones and computers — is becoming more prevalent on campuses, said Epling, a Michigan resident.

He said adults have not done enough to help children learn how to show respect for each other.

'Unbelievably bullied'

Barrett, who has children in the 77,000-student school district, told the Katy ISD board on March 19 that he was "unbelievably bullied" as a student at West Memorial Junior High School, located in the district.

"I had teachers that bullied me. I had kids that bullied me. I had nobody to turn to," he said.

In one incident, Barrett said, his lip was cut when his head was shoved into a urinal in the boys bathroom at the middle school.

"I laid on the ground in a fetal position as the kids kicked me," he said.

Barrett said he even considered taking his own life after school officials sent him home later that day.

"I went home and got the .45 out of my father's drawer and put it in my mouth," he said. "At this point, I had nobody in the school system to help me."

In a dramatic moment, Barrett told Hindt that he was one of the two students who had attacked him in the bathroom.

"Lance, you were the one that shoved my head in the urinal," he told the 53-year-old educator.

'I was not part of it'

Hindt said he didn't recall Barrett from his childhood. While he acknowledged that they attended West Memorial Junior High School at the same time, Hindt said they went to different high schools in Katy.

"I do not suggest that Mr. Barrett was not bullied, only that I was not part of it. Bullying is wrong. Period. It was then and it is today," he said in the written statement.

Barrett said he was shocked when Hindt appeared to lean back in his chair and laugh off the charge. "That really ticked me off," he said. "When he laughed, I thought, 'Maybe this man hasn't changed.'"

Hindt said Monday night that his initial reaction wasn't meant to be disrespectful or insensitive.

"I was truly shocked," he said.

In a March 20 interview, Barrett said he was often involved in fights at school over insults based on his legal last name.

"What he did was traumatizing to me," said Barrett, who added that he had not spoken to Hindt since junior high.

Barrett said his father's job transfer led to his family moving to Lubbock soon after the bathroom incident. He later returned and graduated from Katy High School.

Barrett said last week that one of the other students who was in the boys bathroom that day has since apologized for not helping him and offered to publicly back up his accusations. Barrett identified the man as Chris Dolan, the owner of a Katy-based construction company.

Reached by phone, Dolan recalled walking into the boys bathroom at West Memorial Junior High that day and seeing Barrett on the floor near the urinals.

"I wasn't able to help him at the time," Dolan said. "I saw him over by the urinal. Lance was backing away from him."

Several other students were in the bathroom at the time, both men said.

"Lance had some of his buddies there," Dolan said. "Greg had taken a lot of abuse."

Dolan said he didn't want to get involved and walked out of the boys' bathroom. "I was just a kid," he recalled.

A few years ago, Dolan said that he reached out to Barrett and apologized for not helping him. "I needed to clear my conscience," he said.

Barrett said he came forward with his story after hearing other reports of bullying at Katy ISD campuses.

"I just figured it was time to say something," he said.

Barrett said he has no desire to see Hindt lose his job.

"People change. They do stupid stuff when they're young," Barrett said. "I just want him to acknowledge it, say he's sorry and make some changes so this doesn't continue to happen."

In the statement, Hindt said Katy ISD continues to explore ways to make students feel safe at school.

"I am proud to lead a district that is not afraid to confront bullying behavior — whether in person or online," said Hindt. "We are always challenging our teachers and principals to identify harmful behavior and to intervene as necessary."